Political Notebook: Tracy blasts Congress on health care

State Sen. Jim Tracy, who plans to challenge embattled U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais in the 2014 Republican primary, is blasting congressional leaders for reportedly exploring ways to exempt themselves from a key component of President Barack Obama's new health care law.

A new POLITICO story, which cites unnamed sources in both parties, reports that congressional leaders are "engaged in confidential, high-level talks" about shielding congressional lawmakers and their aides from insurance exchanges mandated in Obama's health care overhaul.

"This is the height of hypocrisy," Tracy, of Shelbyville, said last week. "The fact that members of Congress and their staff would exempt themselves from the very bill they forced on the American public is totally unacceptable.

"If the incumbents in Congress don't want to live under ObamaCare themselves, they should repeal it immediately," Tracy said. "As conservatives in Tennessee we simply cannot let them get away with it this time."

- Joey Garrison

Garrett running for vice mayor

Metro Councilman Tim Garrett recently appointed Theresa Garrett, his wife, as his treasurer for a 2015 vice mayoral run, a move he said is necessary to transfer leftover dollars from his council seat's campaign finance account to a new one.

"I think it's safe to say I am certainly planning on running for vice mayor," Garrett said. "I've been asked to do that kind of for the same reasons people asked me to run for at-large.

"Before you can raise money, you have to appoint a treasurer."

Garrett represented parts of Goodlettsville on the council from 1991 through 1999 before returning in 2007. He ran for vice mayor in 1999, losing in a runoff to Ronnie Steine, who also is back on the council now in another at-large seat.

In January, Garrett told The Tennessean he was "99 percent sure" he would be running for vice mayor.

Now it appears he is 100 percent certain.

- Joey Garrison

DeGeneres joins 'ag gag' veto effort

In an interview posted on her website Wednesday, DeGeneres gave Wayne Pacelle, the Humane Society of the United States' president, an opportunity to call on her viewers to contact Haslam's office and ask him to veto the bill. DeGeneres also pledged to donate $25,000 to the organization if the video was shared 25,000 times.

The bill requires witnesses to turn over evidence of animal abuse immediately. Critics, including Pacelle, say it is meant to stifle secret-camera investigations like the one that led a prominent West Tennessee trainer to plead guilty to violating the federal Horse Protection Act.

- Chas Sisk

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Political Notebook: Tracy blasts Congress on health care

State Sen. Jim Tracy is blasting congressional leaders for reportedly exploring ways to exempt themselves from a key component of President Obama?s new health care law.